Arcam
Arcam A15+ Integrated Amplifier | 80W, HDMI eARC | Martins Hi-Fi
Arcam A15+ Integrated Amplifier | 80W, HDMI eARC | Martins Hi-Fi
Available for Demonstration
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Arcam A15+ Integrated Amplifier
The A15+ is Arcam's answer to a specific question: what happens when you take the Radia A15 — already a well-regarded amplifier — and ask the engineering team to go further? The result is an amplifier with an enhanced power supply, current-generation wireless capabilities, and a DAC stage built around the ESS ES9018. It is compact, it is well built, and it is designed to handle everything from a turntable to a television from a single chassis.
Class AB Amplification
The A15+ uses Class AB amplification — a proven topology that Arcam have refined over nearly 50 years of amplifier design, dating back to the A&R Cambridge A60 of 1976. Two channels driven, 20Hz–20kHz into 8Ω: 80W per channel. Into 4Ω at 1kHz: 120W per channel. Harmonic distortion at 80% power into 8Ω at 1kHz: 0.002%. The cabinet is aluminium throughout — front, top, sides and rear panels — with solid aluminium dials. At 431 × 344 × 98mm and 10kg, it sits naturally on a shelf or in a rack without demanding special treatment.
The DAC — ESS ES9018
The digital section is built around the ESS ES9018 high-resolution DAC. Supported sample rates are 192, 176.4, 96, 88.2, 48, and 44.1kHz, at bit depths of 24 and 16. Digital frequency response is 20Hz–20kHz ±0.2dB, with a signal-to-noise ratio of 109dB (A-weighted, ref. 50W, 0dBFS). The HDMI eARC input is included — a practical addition that allows a television to connect directly to the A15+ without a separate DAC or additional cabling.
Phono Stage
The phono stage is MM, with an input impedance of 47kΩ + 100pF and a frequency response tracking the RIAA curve to within ±1dB across 20Hz–20kHz. Arcam describe it as meticulously tuned — a claim worth taking at face value from a manufacturer whose phono stages have consistently been among the better implementations at this price point.
Wireless — Snapdragon Sound and Auracast
Bluetooth is version 5.4. Snapdragon Sound is included — Qualcomm's end-to-end audio platform, delivering uncompressed digital audio over Bluetooth when both devices support it. This is a meaningful distinction from the standard lossy Bluetooth connections that most products at this level offer.
Auracast is also built in: Bluetooth's broadcast audio standard, which allows the A15+ to share audio to multiple compatible headphones or speakers simultaneously, without conventional pairing. Supported codecs include AAC and LE Audio.
Headphone Output
A headphone output is provided, with a load range of 16Ω to 2kΩ. Maximum output level into 32Ω is 2.5V RMS; into 300Ω it is 5V RMS — a useful range that covers everything from efficient in-ear monitors to high-impedance over-ear headphones.
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Power output (2ch, 20Hz–20kHz, 8Ω) | 80W per channel |
| Power output (2ch, 1kHz, 4Ω) | 120W per channel |
| THD (80% power, 8Ω, 1kHz) | 0.002% |
| Amplifier class | Class AB |
| Analogue inputs | 3× RCA pairs |
| Phono | MM |
| Phono input impedance | 47kΩ + 100pF |
| Phono frequency response | 20Hz–20kHz ±1dB (ref. RIAA) |
| Analogue frequency response | 20Hz–20kHz ±0.2dB |
| Analogue SNR | 106dB (A-wtd, ref. 50W, 1V input) |
| DAC | ESS ES9018 |
| Digital supported sample rates | 192, 176.4, 96, 88.2, 48, 44.1kHz |
| Digital bit depths | 24, 16 |
| Digital frequency response | 20Hz–20kHz ±0.2dB |
| Digital SNR | 109dB (A-wtd, ref. 50W, 0dBFS) |
| Digital inputs | HDMI eARC |
| Headphone output (32Ω / 300Ω) | 2.5V / 5V RMS |
| Headphone load range | 16Ω – 2kΩ |
| Bluetooth | 5.4, Snapdragon Sound, AAC, LE Audio, Auracast |
| Dimensions (W×D×H, inc. feet) | 431 × 344 × 98mm |
| Weight (net) | 10kg |
| Weight (packed) | 13kg |
| Power consumption (max) | 500W |
| Standby | <0.5W |
| Mains voltage | 100V or 110–120V or 220–240V, 50–60Hz |
Who Is It For?
The A15+ is for a listener who wants a compact, well-specified integrated amplifier that handles analogue and digital sources — including a turntable and a television — without requiring additional boxes. It is particularly well suited to someone who already has a streaming source or uses a phone or tablet for wireless playback via Snapdragon Sound or Auracast.
It is not the right choice if you need network streaming built in — that is what the Arcam SA35 is for. And if your room demands more power, the Arcam SA45 offers substantially more headroom with Class G amplification. But for a listener whose sources are defined and whose room is not unusually large or demanding, the A15+ is a focused, honest amplifier at a sensible price.
If you are pairing the A15+ with a physical media source, the Arcam Radia CD5 connects directly and sits naturally in the same system.
Buying from Martins Hi-Fi
Martins Hi-Fi has been in Norwich since 1968. Elizabeth Gould runs the business today, and we stock only brands we have heard properly and stand behind.
The A15+ is available to hear in our Norwich showroom — we can run it with speakers from our demonstration room and from whatever source suits your system best.
When you get in touch, you'll be speaking with Dave, Chris and Tim — experienced specialists who can advise on this product and your whole system.
Contact us at info@martinshifi.co.uk, call 01603 627010, or WhatsApp on 07554 687137. You can read more about how we work on our Why Martins Hi-Fi page. We are at 85–91 Ber Street, Norwich, NR1 3EY.
